Tire protector



July 5,1927.

L. P. C. LOTTE TIRE PROTECTOR Patented July 5,V 1927.

gUNITED STATES y i 1,634,582:y PATENT OFFICE.

i LUCIEN PAUL CELESTIN LOT'IE, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

TIRE PROTECTOR.

Application filed August 15, 1925, vSerial No.' 50,463, and in France August 18, 1924.y

' jects it in its rapid movements to considerable destructive effects; (3) the tendency to side slipping, which upon a perfectly smooth road, such as asphalt, for example, causes a very slight deformation of the protecting device in contact with the ground.

The improvements according to my said invention consist in separating and rendering independent of one another the metallic ring and the elastic outer tire covering and prof tecting'the same, this separation and independence being made in such manner that the outer tire forms in itself a ring whose diameter is greater than that of the metallic ring, this latter having as usual a diameter.

which is much larger than that of the vwheelv tire to be protected.

'In this manner I obtain not only a wheel 'within a wheel, but in fact a wheel (Which is thatto be protected) rolling within a metallic ring which is itself disposed so as to roll Within an outer tire.` VThisvlatter consists of an elastic tire, for'exalnple of solid rubber which supports the parts serving for guiding purposes and gives to the whole system its form.

The appended drawing shows in tra-nsverse section a const-ructional form of the device according to my said invention.

l is the metallic ring, and 2 the outer tire of larger diameter.

rihe metallic ring l is guided in its movement in the interior of the outer tire 2 by the cooperation of its external convex form with the two circular flanges 3 and 4 of the internal surface of the said tire, which form the edges of grooves l0 and ll into which the said ring 1 is fitted. The ring 1 bears at its lower part, on two ribs 7 and 8 which are formed upon the inner surface of t-he tirep2. The said ribs have to acertain eX- tent the function of rails for the external surface of the ring l, and due to the double tapered cross shape of the latter, the ring l will be guided and will be constantly brought into the proper position somewhat after the manner of thel wheels upon railroads.

Due to this arrangement, I obtain a bet-ter cooling of the interior ofthe apparatus,for

in fact since there is a certain spacefat the upper part between the ringl, the vouter tire 2 and the wheel proper to be protected, the current of air for the cooling of the device may come into contact at the same time with both faces of the part l, whilecontinuing to circulate upon the internal surface of the part 2 and the .external surface of the tire of the wheel to be protected. A certain number of holes 6, suitably formed in the ring 1, may be used to facilitate the circulation of the air from one face to the other. n

The efficacity of the cooling will thus be considerably augmented due to the increased developmentr of the surfaces to be cooled. This may be made more effective inasmuch as the space between the ribs 7 and 8 will formion the internal surfaceV of t-he outer tire 2 and at its-middle part a groove' 5,

Vwhich thus provides a larger cross section for the flow of the Ventilating current of air. At the same timethe said groove,

which provides for an outer conv-ex cross shape of the tire 2 has the effect of increasing in the lengthwise direction the surface of deformation of the said tire upon flat ground, and due to its cooperation with the outerrsurface of'the ring l, the surface of contactvofkthe tire 2 with the ground, as shown in the figure, Will be enlarged within all possible limits; so that the tendency to side slipping will be much diminished, and independent-ly of all arrangements of a general nature acting for the same purpose, such as the use of relief designs or of nails suitably mounted on the outer surface of the tire 2.

Should it prove necessary in order to maintain the form of the said groove when inoperative or atreduced speeds, and to pre- Vent the sinking of the tire 2 under the weight of the lateral cheeks, I may dispose within the same a thin and narrow strip of flexible steel band 9 whose diameter is as large as allowed by the groove 5.

Finally, it is obvious that the disposition in which the longitudinal oscillations of the pendent of each other, will have the effect of annulling the reactions, on the tires, of the for-ces of inertia which may be exercised n-pon the ring, and vice versa. The resistance of said ring should therefore calculated with respectto its inertia alone, since this piece is in fact separated from the surrounding elements save at the point of contact with the ground; it maytherefore be lightened, and its mass will become very small', so that it almost immediately yields to the asperities of the ground and therefore improves the suspension of the vehicle as well as the operating conditions of the wheel to be protected.

lt will not be out of place to observe in this connection that the separation between the elastic tire Q-which is further increased by the presence of the groove 5-and the ring l, will .be most advantageous in producing an absorption of the shocks coming upon the ring l, due to raised obstacles on the road.

Having thus described my apparatus, what I claim as new therein, and'fmy own invention, is:

l; ln a protector for wheel tires, the combination of an annular outer tire, a wheel within this tire, this wheel being of a diaineter which is smaller than that of the interior of the said tire, the said tire and the said wheel being entirely independent the one from the other, a metallic ring freely interposed between the said tire and the Asaid V`wheel 'and separating these elements,

the said metallic ring having an external diameter which is smaller thanv the internal diameter of the said tire and an internal diameter which -is larger 'than' the diameter of the said wheel.l

Q. ln al protector' for wheel tires, the combination of an annular outer tire, a. wheel within this tire, this wheel being of a diame'ter which is smaller than the internal diameter of the said tire, the said tire" and the said wheel being entirely'independent the one from the other, a metallic 'ring freely interposed between the said tire and the said wheel and separating these elements, the said metallic ring having an external diameter which is larger than that of the said wheel, the said tire being provided upon its internal surfacev with inwardly projecting ribs forming grooves on each side and adapted to act as guides for the said ring.

3. ln a protector for wheel tires, the combination of an annular outer tire, a wheel within the said tire, this wheel being of a diameter which is smaller than the internal diameter of the said tire, the said tire and the said wheel being entirely independent the one from the other, a metallic ring freely interposed between the said tire and the said wheel, and separating these elements, thesaid metallic ring'having an external diameter' which is smaller than the internal diameter of the said tire and an internal diameter which is 'larger than thatfof Athe said wheel, the said tire being provided upon its surface with linwardly projecting ribs', forming grooves on both sides andadapted to act asguides for the said ring, the :part of the said tire between the said ribs being concave so as to leave a larger space between the said tire and the said metallic ring.

Ll. In a. protector for wheel tires, the combination of an annular outer tire, a wheel within 'this tire,'thi`s wheel being of a diameter which is smaller than the internal diameter' of the said tire, the said tire and thel said Vwheel being` entirely independent the one from the other, a metallic ring freely interposedbetween the said tire and the said wheel, and separating these elements, the said metallic ring having an external di ameter which is smaller than the internal diameter ofv thel said tire and an internal diameter' which is larger than the 'diameter of thel said wheel, the said external tire being inwardly bulged and being adapted to be de'- fcrmedin contact with the ground i In testimony whereof l have hereunto affixed my signature. l f

LUClN PAUL CElxESTlN LUTTE. 

